Health and Safety

Since opening, the health and safety of children and staff has always been a priority. During this time of enhanced concern, Pollywog Place is continuing to stay up-to-date with the latest state guidelines, licensing requirements and CDC guidelines regarding the safety and well-being of children. We have implemented enhanced procedures to limit the spread of COVID-19 and are frequently communicating with families and staff to convey the enhanced measures in place.
New Guidelines and Procedures:
• In the interim, Pollywog Place will be open from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm each day at both campuses.
• Staff will be required to complete a daily health screening before starting work for the day. They will answer a list of questions and have their temperature checked by the screener. If a staff member has a temperature of 100.4 or higher or has a fever, chills, shortness of breath, new cough or loss of taste and smell, they will need to go home and will need a doctor’s note before returning to work.
• Staff members will sanitize and wash their hands before staring their day and throughout the day.
• Pollywog Place will be offering curbside drop off and pick up. We encourage you to use this service. If you choose not to use the curbside drop off/pick up, please park in a space on the side of the building (Woodstock) or in a space in the second row of parking spots (Strasburg).
• Before your child enters the building, they will need to complete a temperature check and parents need to complete a health questionnaire about their child. If your child has a temperature of 100.4 or higher or has a fever, chills, shortness of breath, new cough or loss of taste and smell, they will need to go home and will need a doctor’s note before returning to school.
• If you choose to walk your child into the building, all parents are required to wear a mask. Only one family is allowed in the classroom at a time. Please wait in the hallway until a family exits the room.
• Once your child enters the building, they will sanitize their hands at the sanitizing station and then walk to their classroom. Once they are in their classroom, they will wash their hands.
• The staff member completing the health screening will open the door for you to enter the building. We will not be using the procare check in/out screen at this time. We will be taking attendance manually.
• Signs have been posted in all buildings encouraging proper handwashing, social distancing and information on signs of COVID-19.
• Visitors will not be allowed in the building and any deliveries will be left at the door.
• Children will not be visiting other classrooms and will only be with the children in their assigned classroom.
• All soft toys and pillows have been removed from the classrooms.
• Classroom sizes have been decreased and each child will have a “learning area.”
• Handwashing will occur many times throughout the day: before and after eating, after using the restroom, after any art project, before coming into the classroom for the day, before and after recess time, before leaving for the day.
• Sanitizing will occur many times throughout the day: door handles, light switches, keypads, toilet handles, bathrooms, tables, strollers, toys.
• Children will be able to use the playground with their class. The playground equipment will be sanitized after each class is finished with recess.
• Staff members and children must take all belongings home at the end of the day. We encourage you not to send anything to school with your child unless needed for that day. Rest blankets will be sent home at the end of each day. Anything that is brought to school will be kept in an individual sealed container.
• When feasible, staff members and older children (over the age of 2) should wear a face covering within the facility. Staff members will wear a mask when the six foot distance can’t be maintained.
• Any child or staff member that has been exposed to or has tested positive for the coronavirus must stay home for a 14 day period. He/she will need to have a physician’s note clearing the child and/or adult before returning and the center will work with the local health department to determine if the center needs to close for a period of time.
• Teachers will be required to clean and sanitize their classroom throughout the day and before leaving for the day. We will be using a cleaner and sanitizer that was recommended to us by the local health department.